August 1, 2024
The Butler School of Music welcomes Averil Houston as the new Assistant Director for Faculty and Staff Operations. The married (to wife Veronica Houston) father of three—whose children’s ages range from 8 to 25—was born and raised in East Austin. Growing up, Averil probably never imagined he would work in the arts. He received a football scholarship to a university in Georgia and attended there before transferring to Sam Houston State. It was at Sam Houston where his life took a turn when he began taking acting classes. “It was here at Sam Houston when my football career stopped,” recalls Averil.
After graduation, he decided to pursue a career in film. A friend gave him a buddy pass plane ticket to Los Angeles, and he arrived with two suitcases and $1,200. He found success in Hollywood by securing a commercial agent but still needed to work night jobs to cover rent between productions. He took night jobs to keep his days free for auditions and productions. Some of these roles included security at various high-rise buildings and a nightclub in West Hollywood. He found the most rewarding and enjoyable job was working nights at a group home for teenage mothers for five years. Eventually, he transitioned from in front of the camera to behind it, working on a number of shows, including The Bachelor as a production coordinator.
The demands of reality television production took their toll, and Averil began to act more in theater productions. One of the highlights was a play titled For Black Boys Who Have Considered Homicide When the Streets Were Too Much. He also performed in Miss Evers' Boys at the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
An old newspaper clipping of a young Averil Houston
This theater experience led him to leave reality television for a position at the School of Theater at UCLA in Los Angeles, which opened his eyes to the world of education. He decided to return to Austin, where he worked at the Department of Theatre and Dance for a couple of years before teaching middle school. He later returned to the university, this time at Butler.
In his role at Butler as the Assistant Director for Faculty and Staff Operations, he acts somewhat like a stage manager for the school. While the overall direction of the school is not in his hands, he executes this vision on a day-to-day basis. He supports faculty and staff through their challenges and aids in achieving their dreams and goals. “My role is to ensure that the (faculty and staff) experience is compliant, engaging, and supported,” Houston remarks, adding, “In a nutshell, I’m here for everybody.”
Averil is one of the few who has experienced both sides of the aisle—as an artist and as someone who supports artists. When discussing this transition, he mentions his work with Yetta Young Productions. He recalls, “It was more than just getting to know Averil the actor; they wanted to get to know me. Before we even started rehearsing, we would get together as a cast and just get to know each other.” He remembers how powerful small gestures, like remembering someone’s birthday or checking in, were. These actions made a significant difference and helped the artists come together to deliver amazing performances.
Averil hopes to replicate this at Butler. He aims to foster an environment where everyone cares for and supports each other, believing that through small daily gestures, individuals and artists can grow and create extraordinary art at Butler.